colinneagle writes: Multiple sources claim, and I have gotten my own confirmation, that Microsoft's Legal and Corporate Affairs team distributed a memo to all internal and external parties banning the use of the "Metro" term. Windows 8 went RTM on Wednesday, August 1, and will go retail by the end of October, so this is a hell of a time to change a name you've driven into the consumer's head.

The memo claims that Microsoft has been threatened with legal action for infringing on "Metro" trademarks currently held by German retailer Metro AG.

There's been chatter that Microsoft wants to ditch the name because it's been slapped on everything and there may be confusion. That seems like a good excuse, but a source within the company suggests that it's really the trademark issue.

"They told us about the Metro mess, though the screwup on checking the name wasn't spelled out per se, and frankly, everyone's either simply dismayed or genuinely annoyed that whoever was supposed to be doing due diligence on the name blew it so badly," the source said.

Microsoft will have a new official name to replace Metro this weekend, the source added.

"Considering that the damned thing is already gold and RTM, the Windows/WinPhone teams have an uphill battle here," the source said.

"They told us about the Metro mess, though the screwup on checking the name wasn't spelled out per se, and frankly, everyone's either simply dismayed or genuinely annoyed that whoever was supposed to be doing due diligence on the name blew it so badly,"
Because THAT is the part of the mess they should be dismayed about... You know not the fact that the entire system look like a cluster%$#@ of random symbols and no one wants to use it they've gotten away with that many times.